Start Working in Australia: Guide to working as a maid
Working in Australia was an exciting adventure from the beginning. To start, you need to obtain your TFN (Tax File Number) , an essential requirement for any job. The next important question is: "What do you want to work on?" Previous work experience also plays a crucial role. Most of the jobs I applied for required knowledge in hospitality, a field in which I had no significant experience, except for a brief period at a fishing lodge in Chilean Patagonia.
Adaptation and First Steps
My experience at the lodge was more administrative than operational. Although I knew how to take inventory, I had no idea how to make beds or wait tables professionally. This is where adapting your work history comes into play. It is crucial to present it in a way that fits the requirements of the desired job. Having a friend with good English proficiency or a native speaker who can provide references can be a big help.
In the Australian hospitality industry, your experience in other fields is not as valued. You start from scratch, actively looking for work. Posting ads in English on local Facebook or Gumtree pages can be more effective. However, in cities, it is common to be asked to work two hours for free to demonstrate your skills before deciding whether to hire you.
golf cart
Equipment Management and Adaptation to the Environment
As a housekeeper, I had to learn how to drive a golf cart equipped with all the necessary cleaning products. Working in a remote location meant my only experience was what I had described to the business owner. I had never worked in a campsite, much less in cleaning, so improvisation and professionalism were essential.
In my case, I started working in a remote place, isolated from big cities, so my experience only included what I had told the owner of the company. I had never worked in a campsite in my life, much less doing cleaning, so that you had to improvise, and believe the story, and look professional.
Linguistic Challenges and Learning
Working with native Australian colleagues was a great challenge. His Australian English, full of slang and idioms, was very different from the English she had learned from books. I had to learn specific hospitality and cleaning vocabulary to understand my coworkers and meet established deadlines.
Time Management and Wellbeing
The Timesheet is the document where the hours worked are recorded. The first few months were hard and exhausting, making all the beds I hadn't made in 30 years, cleaning, driving, and getting used to the dirt. However, I managed to keep my mind calm and happy, since the stress was less compared to my previous job in Chile.
Salaries and Working Conditions
In Australia, there are many hospitality job opportunities, from hotels to campsites and motels. It is easy to get a job with the right resume. The minimum wage (2024) is 24.10 AUD per hour reviews Minimum wages - Fair Work Ombudsman , although in cities with more competition, some people agree to work for less.
In Australia, there is a lot of maid work in hotels to camping. It is easy to get a job when you have the right resume "remember you have to make your resume according to the job you are applying for" , but you have to be careful that they pay you what they deserve, the minimum is 24.10 AUD per hour , although in cities with more competition, some people agree to work for less. In my case, I was paid 25 AUD per hour (2019), which allowed me to work less and earn more.
Example of payment, for two weeks of work, some places pay weekly, others pay biweekly.
You can say that work is sacrificial but every hour you work is more money in your account for whatever you want to do, that was my motivation.
Job search
I generally searched for my jobs on Facebook in the Backpackers job group in Australia , I prepared a post in English with my information, so I received many offers to work in different places in Australia, the further away, the better they will pay you and give you more benefits, accommodation, food, there are different places that offer full packages to go to work with them, so research well where you want to go.
In the case of cities, I always looked for work on local pages, on Facebook, or directly in the places where I wanted to work, leaving my resume in person or looking to see if they needed workers on their websites. On Facebook, job offers are always published.
I have always looked for jobs with Australian employers. I don't like working with foreign bosses because I didn't have good experiences; I always felt that they didn't want to pay me what was due. Furthermore, my goal was always to strengthen my English, since it was the only way to get out of the hospitality sector.
This is an example of a job offer, always check carefully who is offering it if it is legal or not because there are many scammers who want to take advantage of students or backpackers, look for comments and try to call the person, if you feel that it is not for you It's for some reason. Follow your instincts .
Recommendations for new migrants
Learn the basic vocabulary of the area you want to work in.
Adapt your resume to the job you are applying for.
Research how to do tasks correctly . For example, learn how to make beds by watching videos on YouTube:
Check that you are paid correctly according to Australian laws. Check the government page: Pay and wages - Fair Work Ombudsman
Use contacts and look for jobs in English to increase your chances.
Explore all the hotels, motels, resorts and caravan parks in the area where you want to work.
Practice your English constantly to improve and adapt.
Final ThoughtsWorking in Australia can be a challenge, but every effort is worth it when you see your bank account grow. The key is to be willing to get your hands dirty and start over. Here are some photos of the places where I worked and the animals I found along the way.
With these strategies and recommendations, you will be better prepared to face challenges and take advantage of job opportunities in Australia. Good luck on your work adventure!
